Phoenix Feather

by Angela Wallace

  “I’m sorry this is so hard on you,” Chris spoke up, startling Aidan.

  “Seems like it would be worse for you,” she said.

  He gave her a smile. “Not really. I’m not afraid to die.” He looked at Phoebe. “Mom taught me that. I just wish it didn’t have to hurt you guys so much.”

  He was so brave. To face death and leave behind everyone he loved. He had a strength Aidan could never know.

  “Please don’t be mad, Phoebe,” he said.

  Phoebe sat in silence for a moment. “I think I’ll be mad just a little longer,” she said, her tone softer. “But I understand.”

  “Aidan? Do you?”

  She nodded. “Yes. We better make these next few months count, right?” Her attempted optimism made her voice crack.

  “Yes, but you’re not dropping out of school.”

  “It takes up too much time,” Phoebe protested. “Time away from us.”

  Chris shook his head firmly. “Your life does not end with me, so you’re not going to act like it does. If I have to sit and help you do your homework, I will. Got it?” He gave Phoebe and Aidan his best domineering look, which didn’t come across very intimidating.

  Aidan couldn’t help but smile. “I won’t need such help, but thanks.”

  “Okay,” Chris said. “Now, this Friday is the firehouse barbecue and our old high school’s Fall Festival. Phoebe’s team is helping with it, so we’re going to be there.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Aidan said.

  “You should go to the barbecue,” Phoebe said. “Trent’s a really nice guy. I like you with him.”

  “What about that quality time you were just talking about?”

  “There’s plenty of time for that,” Chris said. “I’m talking about you also not putting your life on hold. Go to the barbecue. After I’ve recovered from the surgery, we’ll all go dancing too.”

  Aidan was torn. On the one hand, she wanted to cling to what she knew she would lose soon, and on the other, wanted to cling to something that promised to stay, at least for a little while longer. She could do both, couldn’t she?

  “Okay,” she finally acceded.

  Chris glanced at his sister. “Phoebe, your ice cream’s melting all over Aidan’s coffee table.” He gave her one of his roguish grins, and she smiled in spite of herself.

  “Sor-ry,” she enunciated with childlike impudence.

  Aidan retrieved a towel to wipe off the condensation, and the three of them talked of Chris’s upcoming surgery and how they were going to work around school to be there. They also agreed to meet up for dinner later. Chris planned to go by the school’s admissions building and talk to his teachers, and Aidan needed to call Trent as she had promised. She would have to depend on him in the coming months. It both comforted and frightened her.

  Chapter Eight

  Bryan was on his fourth cup of coffee, and it wasn’t even eleven o’clock in the morning yet. He hadn’t been sleeping well. Seattle officially had a serial killer targeting women, and no evidence had turned up to help them catch the guy. The body count was up to three now. The third victim had gone missing late one night from a twenty-four-hour fitness center. Her body turned up five days later under an overpass three miles from where she was taken. Security footage from the gym had caught nothing due to an overgrown tree in the particular area of the parking lot where the victim’s car had been parked. The killer was either extremely lucky, or he had known about that beforehand. All that the camera caught was the back of her car as it drove away. Who was driving, though, couldn’t be determined.

  Bryan, Jess, and now two more detectives had gone over every witness statement they could get. They had spent the past few weeks reviewing every receipt from the victims, tracing their movements. But when they found something in common—a restaurant receipt or movie tickets from the same theater—interviews came up with nothing. They retrieved security footage from the areas dating back a few months and had spent hours watching for their victims and waiting to see if the cameras had caught anyone following them. There was nothing. They knew the killer watched his victims, but he was so good at it that he blended in.

  Bryan felt exhausted. There were other cases that needed to be solved: an apparent suicide, two gun homicides, and a rape-murder. The department was stretched trying to deal with the typical cases that plagued the city, while feeling the public’s growing panic and trying to put an end to it as quickly as possible.

  Jess came in and put the last security footage tape on the stack. “Nothing. Back to square one.” She leaned against a desk and rubbed the back of her neck. “What’s this?” she asked, and picked up a new folder from the pile.

  “Oh, CSU found hair from the second victim on the third victim’s clothes,” Bryan said. “All it means is they were kept in the same place, but it doesn’t tell us where.”

  “It tells us he has a nest,” Jess said. “A comfort zone.”

  “Yeah, but he’s already confident and smart enough to hunt away from it.” Bryan got up and looked at the map they had tacked up on their murder board to show the various crime scenes, abduction locations, and addresses of the victims. “This is a very large radius. It’s like how he dumps their possessions with the bodies; after he’s done with them, he wants the association to be as far away as possible.”

  Jess put the folder down. “So we look outside the radius.”

  Bryan stared at the map in despair. So many people, multiple possible victims, and one killer. He glanced up and saw his brother enter the squad room. How many days had it been since Bryan had seen or even talked to Trent? Or was it weeks?

  “Hey, Trent,” Jess said. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. How are the kids?”

  “Can’t wait to go Trick-or-Treating tomorrow.”

  Trent smiled. “What are you going to be?”

  Jess shook her head and held up a hand. “No.”

  “Oh, come on.”

  “It wasn’t my idea,” she emphasized, and grimaced. “Glinda.”

  “Glinda?” Bryan asked, finally pulling his attention away from the case. He didn’t know Jess dressed up for Halloween.

  She gave him a sardonic look. “The Wizard of Oz. Or, actually, Wicked. My sister is going to be Elphaba.”

  Trent grinned. “Could be worse. She could have made you wear the green makeup.”

  “I do draw the line.”

  “Not if she got the kids on her side.”

  Jess laughed. “What brings you down?”

  Trent looked at Bryan. “Tomorrow’s the community barbecue at the firehouse.”

  Bryan had forgotten that Trent’s company did that every year. Now he knew what Trent was going to say: he had come down in the hopes that a face-to-face conversation would be more persuasive than one over the phone. Bryan had work to do though, and did not feel in the socializing mood. When had he last been in the mood?

  He shook his head. “Look, now’s not a good time.”

  “I’ve been following the papers,” Trent said. “Do you have any leads?”

  Bryan didn’t say anything, so Jess stepped in.

  “No. We’re not likely to get any in the next few days either.”

  “You look like you could use a break,” Trent said to Bryan.

  “I’ve got three bodies, with no indication that this guy is going to take a break, so I’m not going to either.” He had lost slight rein on his temper and become snippy. He watched Trent hold his tongue so he wouldn’t respond in kind. Bryan used to have such control, he realized with regret.

  “Well,” Trent said slowly. “Let him wear himself down while you keep yourself in good straights, and that’s how you’ll catch him. Do you honestly think you’ll miss a colossal lead if you take a day off?” Trent’s eyes swept over the piles of papers and reports.

  It was true, and Bryan knew it. Jess was taking the day off. He could too. “I don’t think I’d be pleasant company.”

  Trent crossed his arms and gave
him a scrutinizing look. “Well try. Someone’s going to be there tomorrow I want you to meet.”

  Bryan shook his head, still unsure.

  “A girl?” Jess asked.

  A girl? Why hadn’t Bryan thought of that? He called himself a detective.

  “Yes,” Trent said with a sly grin. “She’s going to be there, and I want you to meet her.”

  That meant it was serious. Bryan remembered a few casual dates on Trent’s arm in the past, but no one he had ever wanted Bryan to meet. Maybe he should…

  “I’ll try,” he said.

  Trent shook his head and dropped his arms. “That’s not good enough this time, Bryan. You know, I’ve tried to be supportive in the past, tried to keep you from digging yourself into this pit, and gave you space when you clearly showed me it was what you wanted. Well, now it’s my turn. This woman’s important to me, so be there.” He turned, said goodbye to Jess, and left.

  Bryan was silent. Trent hadn’t talked to him like that since high school when Bryan had made the very bad decision to date a very bad girl. She might have pulled him into a very deep pit had Trent not taken a stand. Bryan had listened then, despite the fact that he was older. The two of them used to be very close, but Bryan knew it was his fault that had changed.

  Jess was staring at him.

  “You think I’m a jerk?” he asked.

  “I think you need to figure out what it means to love your brother and whether you want to be a part of his life, or just some guy he used to know.” She shrugged, and sat down at her desk, ready to continue the endless poring over useless information.

  Bryan sat down too. For once though, his mind was not consumed by his cases.

  ***

  Friday October 31st saw the sun shining in an otherwise empty sky, and experienced a brisk temperature of fifty-five degrees. Station 25 had cleared out its parking lot on the side of the firehouse and set up picnic tables, chairs, and grills. In the back they had set up a flatbed loaded with pumpkins waiting to be carved, and a booth for face painting. The bay doors stood open and kids played on the fire trucks while firefighters gave short presentations on the job and safety lectures for when the kids went Trick-or-Treating later that evening. A large picket sign advertised a costume contest, and steady streams of smoke rose from the grills. It looked as though the entire neighborhood had come out for the event.

  Aidan navigated her way through the crowds of people. She had put in some extra hours at the museum that morning so she could take the afternoon off. The smell from the grills made her mouth water, and the sound of children laughing rang like delighted chimes in her ears. Some of the kids ran around like frenzied Germanic warriors, but if their antics got too dangerous, a fireman seemed to appear out of nowhere and put them back in their place. Aidan smiled at the inherent awe kids seemed to possess for society’s “everyday heroes.” She was glad she had come.

  She spotted Trent at the grill and made her way toward him. “Hi,” she said.

  “Hey!” He beamed at the sight of her and came around to give her a hug. It caught her off guard, but she decided she liked it.

  “Frank, you remember Aidan,” he said to the other fireman at the grill. “Aidan, I know you remember Frank.”

  She chuckled, able to look back on that first introduction with amusement now. “Nice to see you again.”

  He nodded at her in greeting. “Can I take an order?”

  Aidan looked at the burgers sizzling on the grill. “Um, later?” She looked around at the orange and black streamers running from the station’s roof to nearby trees, the various jack-o-lanterns set up around the lot and yard, and the aluminum cut-outs stapled to tables and trees. “This looks amazing, and like it took a lot of work.”

  Trent grinned. “This is the best part of the job.”

  “Show her which pumpkin is yours,” Frank said.

  Trent laughed.

  Aidan nudged him. “I want to see.”

  He led her over to the bay doors and pointed to a pumpkin against the wall. Instead of a jack-o-lantern face, he had carved flames into his pumpkin, which now glowed with the tiny tea light candle inside.

  “I love it,” she said.

  One of the firemen watching the kids play on the trucks waved at her. He had a mischievous grin on his face.

  “Uy,” Trent groaned. “I apologize now for anything that will be said the rest of the day.”

  “They’ll tease you?” she asked.

  He looked at her with a hint of shyness. “Well, you are the first serious date I’ve brought to one of these things in a while, and they all know it.”

  Aidan considered his statement a moment before grinning and linking her arm in his. “I’m honored.” She flashed a daring smile back at the other fireman, and turned Trent around to head back to the grill.

  “Are you a glutton for punishment?” he asked.

  “They can bring it on.”

  He laughed, and they returned to help Frank at the barbecue.

  Aidan stood next to the grill and handed out plates and buns. Trent tried to tell her she could go enjoy the activities, but she responded that she was enjoying things quite well where she was. When there was a lull in the feast preparation, Trent got the three of them cold sodas. Even though she had bundled up in a sweatshirt and scarf, working next to the barbecue provided plenty of warmth.

  “Oh great,” Trent said, and jumped up. “My brother’s here.”

  Aidan followed his gaze to the street where Detective McCain stood, surveying the crowd with an out-of-place intensity. Oh no.

  “I’ll be right back,” Trent said, and went to get Bryan.

  Aidan wanted to slap herself.

  “You okay?” Frank asked.

  “I forgot to do something very important.” She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

  Trent and Bryan made their way back through the crowd. Aidan saw the frown on Bryan’s face deepen as they got closer. He must have recognized her as well.

  “Aidan,” Trent said. “This is my brother, Bryan. Bryan, I’d like you to meet Aidan.”

  She reached out her hand to shake his.

  “Miss Quinn,” he said gruffly. “We’ve met.”

  It was amazing how much awkwardness one person could project. Trent looked confused.

  “I meant to tell you,” Aidan said. Best to get it out in the open as quickly as possible. She should never have let this situation happen in the first place. “That night, dinner at your place, and the family photographs, I made the connection. I just didn’t want to ruin the mood for the evening. And then the thing with Chris happened and I forgot. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to keep it hidden from you, and I certainly did not want formal introductions to go this way.” She searched Trent’s eyes for what he might be thinking.

  “Okay... How was telling me you knew my brother going to ruin the mood? Did you guys date or something?” He tried to pass it off as a joke, but he looked nettled by the thought.

  “I interviewed her in relation to a case I’m working on,” Bryan said, and looked at Aidan to explain the rest. Whether he was testing her or giving her the benefit of the doubt, she couldn’t tell.

  Aidan shifted in discomfort. “A friend of mine was killed. Murdered, actually. That was after we first met, but before you asked me out. It just wasn’t a topic I thought good for the nice dinner you had planned.” Now she wished she had risked it that night rather than be in this situation. It wasn’t deceit, but she felt guilty all the same.

  “Oh,” Trent said quietly. “Um, I’m sorry about that.” He laughed under his breath and ran a hand through his hair. “I could see how that wouldn’t be good dinner conversation.” He exchanged a private look with his brother, and Aidan had no idea what passed between them.

  “So, you’re not mad?” she asked.

  “No. Yeah, this wasn’t how I pictured introductions either, but I understand.” He reached out and brushed her arm. “We can talk about it later if you want. For now, eit
her of you hungry?”

  “Sure,” Bryan said, adjusting the cuff of his jacket in discomfiture.

  Trent went behind the grill and retrieved the tongs. “Okay, I know my brother here favors well-done; what about you, Aidan?” The smile had returned to his eyes and threatened to be contagious. He knew how to disarm a potentially mood shattering situation, and he did it naturally, as though there was nothing wrong with what had just happened. Bit by bit, Aidan found her heart betraying her and turning to him.

  “I think I’ll defer to your expertise on this one,” she said.

  “Hmm, you’re very trusting.”

  “I have it on good faith that you can cook.”

  Frank laughed. “Dinner went well?”

  Trent slapped a piece of meat onto the grill. “Hey, she’s pretty good with dessert.”

  “Ah, but today you said the city was providing the sweets, and my skills are no longer challenged.” She grinned, and watched him flip the hamburger patty.

  Trent inclined his head in mock assent. “You’re right. And it’s cookies.” The way he grinned made her suspicious. He finished her burger and flipped it onto her plate. “I’ll get some if you want to find a picnic table.”

  Aidan hit the condiments table first, and then found an open table. Bryan sat down across from her.

  “Small world,” he said.

  She nodded. “I’ve been following the papers, so I know Jenny’s death hasn’t been solved.” She paused and studied him. Aidan remembered Trent saying his brother was buried in his work, and she also remembered how old he looked when she had first met him, which was nothing compared to how tired and worn he looked now. “I know that must be hard. I’ve been able to move on and you haven’t.”